Fourth-grade teacher Stacey Abrahamson has begun incorporating technology into her classroom at Radley Elementary in East Helena.

Through an Intel-designed course, Abrahamson created an example PowerPoint presentation on Montana. She then set her students to work in groups on PowerPoint presentations about different regions around the United States for a social studies unit.

Abrahamson said working in groups is a big part of the real world, and that sort of active engagement is very different from sitting and reading from a textbook. She added that it accommodates all levels of learning.

Later this year, the students will design a Web page and a brochure using another computer program, Microsoft Publisher.

Abrahamson said she likely would have forged through these projects without the Intel course, but admits the technology class has made her more comfortable teaching it to her students.

"Intel showed me how to put it together in a unit," she said.

All the information in her computer is displayed in front of the class on a Smart Board, an interactive white board with touch-sensitive controls.

Abrahamson is a big fan of technology and firmly believes it enhances student learning.

"Technology is a huge part of our world," she said. "Kids aren't afraid to use it."

She said it is their open attitude that engages students in their thinking and helps them to become independent thinkers.

Mike Agostinelli Jr., technology coordinator for the district, donated his time to teach the course, which has been offered once a week since the start of the school year.

"It is really important for this to happen," he said, adding that it raises the comfort level of teaching with technology.

The goal, he said, is to have students by middle school be able to use the available software to create a final product that fulfills the requirements of the unit or lesson.

Agostinelli plans to offer the course again in the fall and a continuing Intel class this spring, a second step from the one recently completed.

Within the next three years, he hopes to have all the educators in East Helena trained in both levels.